Impalila Island lies at the eastern extremity of the Caprivi Strip and is bounded by the converging Zambezi and Chobe Rivers and a natural channel known as the Kasai. The island is 11 kilometres long and four kilometres wide and is flanked by a number of pristine forested smaller islands and superb floodplains. There are two lodges on the island, and walks on the floodplain and birding trips along the rivers by motorboat are offered. Birding is excellent, and a lot of big game is normally encountered. A stay of four to five days will typically yield 250-300 species in summer and 150-200 species in winter.

Habitats

Impalila Island has a variety of habitats ranging from mopane, acacia and riparian woodland to open grasslands, floodplains and reed and papyrus-lined channels. Thick riverine forest is found on the neighboring islands of Ntwala.

Birding

Birding is good throughout the year, but the best time is between November and April when the migrants are present.

1. Boat trips down the Kasani and into the Chobe river are exciting, with both game viewing and birdwatching at it’s best. Along the shore you can see White-crowned Lapwing and Long-toed Lapwing and in the floodplains a variety of herons and egrets occur. These include Rufous-bellied Heron and Slaty Egret. In the shallows covered in water lilies there are usually African Pygmy-Goose and often Lesser Jacana and Lesser Moorhen. Southern Carmine Bee-eater are plentiful and so is African Fish-Eagle. Osprey is often present on the Chobe and Kasai rivers. In summer, Rock Pratincole breed on rocks in a series of rapids in both the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers. African Skimmer is present on the zambezi and they breed on sandbanks when the river is low. Check the reedbeds for Red-headed Quelea especially during high water levels. Game sightings include , including Elephant, Hippo, Lechwe, Buffalo, Chobe Bushbuck, Lion, Leopard and spotted Hyena.

General

To get to Impalila Island you can either drive through Botswana to Kasane and from there by boat to the island, or fly directly to Kasane, or fly to Victoria Falls or Livingstone and transfer to Kasane by road (70 kms). For more information contact Impalila Island Lodge or Ntwala Island Lodge in Johannesburg - tel. +27 11 234 9997, fax +27 11 234 0365. Email: phil@islandsinafrica.com .